NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team opened another Ivy League weekend on Friday night, securing a double-digit victory at Yale, 66-52.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Senior captain Jordan Obi lead Penn with 19 points, going 5-for-14 from the floor and 9-for-13 at the line. She also had a team-high four assists.
 
*Junior Stina Almqvist was consistent driving down the lane, knocking in 18 points on 9-for-15 shooting.
 
*Freshman Mataya Gayle wrapped up the double-digit scorers for Penn with 14 points to go with a team-high six boards and three assists.
 
*The Quakers shot 44.2 percent from the floor, while Yale shot 43.1 percent.
 
*Penn's defense forced the Bulldogs into 14 turnovers with five shot clock violations. The Quakers also protected the arc, as Yale went 0-for-9 from three.
 
How It Happened
A strong defensive first quarter had the Quakers push the early momentum, forcing the Bulldogs into five turnovers including three shot clock violations.
 
It translated on the offensive end with five different players contributing points led by Gayle with five points on a jumper and three. It was capped off at the buzzer by Obi's pump and elbow jumper to give Penn its first double-digit advantage of the game, 14-4, to wrap up the frame.
 
Although the double-digit lead faded slightly in the second quarter, the Quakers didn't let the Bulldogs any closer than six points with seven seconds left before the half, but Gayle had different plans. In the closing seconds, she pushed the ball quickly down the court to pull up from the right wing and drain the three at the buzzer for a 27-18 lead for Penn to take to the locker room.
 
Gayle and Almqvist led the Quaker offense at the half with eight points each, while the Penn defense forced the Bulldogs into nine turnovers.
 
Almqvist got the Quakers going out of the break, but the third frame was an even 16-16 battle, leaving no separation changes headed to the final quarter.
 
Penn took over in the fourth, pushing back ahead by double-digits and Simone Sawyer drilled a three midway through before the media break to extend the lead to 13, at that point the largest lead of the game.
 
However, it continued to balloon to as much as 17 after a pair of free throws by Lizzy Groetsch.
 
The Bulldogs hit some late shots to close the deficit slightly, but Penn maintained the double-digit lead the rest of the way and remained consistent at the line to close out the victory.
 
Up Next
The Quakers continue their road trip tomorrow evening, clashing with Brown in Providence at 5 p.m.